A New Procedure for Determination of Electron Temperatures and Electron Concentrations by Thomson Scattering and Analytical Plasmas

Abstract

A new data-treatment procedure allows for more accurate determination of electron temperatures and electron concentrations in analytical plasmas. A thomson scattering spectrum, useful for these determinations, is often not purely Gaussian in shape, even when the probed electrons possess a Maxwellian velocity distribution. Nonetheless, an unambiguous relationship exists between electron temperatures and concentrations that truly exist in a plasma and those calculated from a distorted Thompson scattering spectrum. Understanding this relationship permits a look-up table to be constructed, from which observed values can be corrected. Theory concerning this procedure is described and details for using it with both a ruby laser and frequency doubled Nd: YAG laser are discussed. Examples of electron temperature and electron concentration determined with this procedure in an ICP are given. The possibility of using the new procedure to study electron energy distributions is also assessed. Keywords: Thomson scattering; Inductively coupled plasma; Multielement analysis; Electron temperatures; Electron concentrations.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 28, 1988
Accession Number
ADA203489

Entities

People

  • Gary M. Hieftje
  • Huang Mao

Organizations

  • Indiana University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Backscattering
  • Computer Programming
  • Diffraction
  • Electromagnetic Fields
  • Electromagnetic Scattering
  • Electron Energy
  • Electrons
  • Energy
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Shift
  • Lasers
  • Ruby Lasers
  • Scattering
  • Scattering Cross Sections
  • Spectra
  • Thomson Scattering
  • Yag Lasers

Readers

  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.
  • Solar Physics
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers
  • Microelectronics